Globalization: A Very Short

Introduction (Very Short

Introductions)
PDF
Globalization has become one of the defining buzzwords of our time--a term that describes a variety
of complex economic, political, cultural, ideological, and environmental forces that are rapidly
altering our experience of the world. In clear, accessible language, Manfred B. Steger goes beyond
a narrow economic focus to cover all the major causes and consequences of globalization as well
as the hotly contested question of whether globalization is, ultimately, a good or a bad thing. This
new edition has been fully updated, incorporating all the major global developments in the past four
years, including the 2008-2010 global financial crisis, the 2011 Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and
nuclear disaster, the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden, the on-going revolutions in the Middle East,
and the rise of social networking such as Facebook and Twitter. The book also examines political
movements both for and against globalization, from WTO protests to the rise in global jihadism;
considers such concepts as "Americanization" and "McDonaldization"; and explores the role of the
media and communication technologies in the process of cultural globalization. Finally, Steger
explains in accessible language the connection between economic globalization and multinational
corporations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization.About
the Series:Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a
wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and
Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides
trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in
a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in
question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society.
Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an
accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems important or
appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series
has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.

Series: Very Short Introductions

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 3 edition (May 19, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0199662665
ISBN-13: 978-0199662661
Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.5 x 4.4 inches
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Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
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This slim 137-page volume is penned by Manfred Steger, Professor of Political Science at the
University of Hawaii and author of more than 20 books on the subject of globalization. He's also
Research Leader of the Globalization and Culture Program at the Royal Melbourne Institute of
Technology, where he's Professor of Global Studies. The book was updated and revised in May
2013.With these impeccable academic credentials, the author knows his stuff and manages to
condense this vast subject down to 8 succinct chapters each focusing on a different aspect of the
subject: the economic, political, cultural, ecological and (perhaps the most interesting chapter)
ideological dimensions of the process.In an early chapter Steger defines some common terms used
in the debate and outlines the argument that `globalization' is not really a new phenomenon but can
be seen as part of a gradual process over the past 10,000 years, whereby ideas born in one part of
the world (the invention of the wheel or of writing, for example) have over time been adopted by
neighbouring societies and become at least widespread, even though their adoption might be
prevented from becoming truly `global' by the geographical remoteness of some regions. The
perception of globalization as a uniquely modern phenomenon born of the age of passenger-air
travel and global electronic communications is flawed, claims Steger: it is more useful to see the
current phase of an increasingly interconnected world as just the latest in an inevitable process.

I have read several Oxford University Very Short Introduction books. This one was interesting but
also disappointing as it was too brief and unnecessarily biased without supporting data.Unlike
Joseph Stiglitz or Thomas Friedman, this author defines globalization beyond economic forces
briefly summarizing economic, political, cultural, ecological and idealogical impacts of globalization.
He identifies why these forces are important but lack equal impact or value. Oddly, he overlooks
technology and the rapid pace of change. Sometimes he provides supportive examples and
references. Too often, he makes unsubstantiated socialist rants never supported with examples or
references. The sudden change in writing style is abrupt and difficult to overlook. Lastly, he fluffs
nearly a third of the book highlighting a WTO protest in Seattle (inconsequential) and the War on
Terror because of 9/11 (impact to banking felt world-wide yet undiscussed).Although the author is
clearly well-read, his work reads like an amateur that has limited travel to high society regions of
English-speaking countries. He has limited understanding of life beyond a post industrialist
democratic society that encourages free trade, education and scientific thinking. While he shares
these values and would willingly promote democracy as an export, he also has a naive hippie
agenda that claims we would all work really well together if only the bad capitalists were forced to
behave. I doubt he has even chatted with citizens of developing countries (language barrier) in order
to learn their point of view or view of themselves in history.

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